Argentina-Switzerland date at the World Cup

A contest eagerly awaited by the football world will be played in the final match of the World Cup quarterfinals. Defending champions Argentina will face Switzerland tonight at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. With the winning side advancing to the semifinal, this contest carries different storylines for both teams.

Having won all five of their matches at the tournament, Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 16 and came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 32; goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández in the final 13 minutes of the second half proved decisive in that win. Lionel Messi sits atop the Golden Boot standings with eight goals at the tournament. Switzerland, meanwhile, reached this stage via a different path; the side managed by Murat Yakin topped their group, went through normal time against Algeria and Colombia without conceding, and reached their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954 by winning their Round of 16 match against Colombia on penalties.

Ahead of the contest, there is a significant injury concern on the Switzerland side. Young talent Johan Manzambi, who has taken the tournament by storm with three goals, is reported to be racing against time to recover from the knee injury that caused him to miss the Round of 16. AC Milan's Ardon Jashari is expected to step in again, forming an experienced midfield alongside Remo Freuler and captain Granit Xhaka. On the Argentina side, the full 26-man squad is reported to be completely healthy; manager Lionel Scaloni is expected to choose between Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez in attack.

The two teams' most recent World Cup meeting came in 2014, when Argentina beat Switzerland 1-0 in a Round of 16 match that went to extra time. This contest is also expected to be shaped by the goalkeepers' performances; Argentina's Emiliano Martínez made the saves his team needed against Cape Verde and Egypt, while Switzerland's Gregor Kobel made a crucial save in the penalty shootout against Colombia. In a match that could be decided by a single goal, the performance of both goalkeepers will matter just as much as the finishing quality up front.

Image: World Soccer Talk